Integrated MMDS antenna and down converter

ABSTRACT

An integrated semi-parabolic antenna/down converter MMDS receiving system wherein the support boom of a semi-parabolic antenna contains the down converter electronics. Located at the focal area of the semi-parabolic antenna are a pair of driven feed elements which are directly connected to the printed circuit board carrying the down converter electronics. The down converter is formed in an elongated shape to fit entirely within the formed hollow interior of the support boom. The down converter comprises a first printed circuit board which contains an RF filter located at the input end of the printed circuit board. The input of the RF filter circuit is directly connected to the pair of driven feed elements by soldering the legs of the driven feed elements directly to the input of the RF filter stage on the first printed circuit board. The RF filter is surrounded by an input ground shield which covers the RF filter circuit. The shield is soldered to the top and bottom ground planes of the printed circuit board. At the opposite end of the printed circuit board is an output amplifier whose output is connected to a coax output lead. A coax ground shield engages the opposite end of the first printed circuit board in a perpendicular orientation so as to position the opposite end of the printed circuit board within the hollow interior. The reference oscillator for the down converter is mounted on a second printed circuit board which is spaced from the first printed circuit board and is oriented to have its bottom ground plane to be facing the bottom ground plane of the first printed circuit board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to down converters for semi-parabolic antennasfor use in multichannel multipoint distribution system (MMDS) (alsotermed `wireless cable`) and, in particular, to integrating the downconverter into the feed boom or support for semi-parabolic antennas.

2. Statement of the Problem

Wireless cable is competing with cable to offer programming to thepublic. Wireless cable utilizes a semi-parabolic reflector which ismounted on the rooftop of a consumer's house. Multiple channels aredelivered to this semi-parabolic reflector from a remote location.Conventional microwave semi-parabolic antenna systems utilize an antennawith a separate down converter mounted on the backside with coaxialcable and connectors interconnecting the two elements.

A need exists to integrate the separate down converter into thesemi-parabolic reflector in order to reduce wind load of the overallantenna and down converter receiving system, to provide a system whichcan be installed by the consumer with a minimum of installation time, toeliminate the need for a separate down converter housing (thus reducingthe material and labor costs of the system), to eliminate the coaxialcable and connectors interconnecting the antenna and the down converterin order to reduce the signal loss between the antenna and the downconverter thereby improving the overall system signal to noise ratio ata significantly lower materials cost, and to improve the impedancematching between the antenna and the down converter which allows for anoptimum signal transfer.

3. Results of a Patentability Search

A patentability search was conducted on the teachings of the presentinvention with respect to a solution to the above problem. The followingpatents were uncovered in this search:

    ______________________________________                                        Patent No.   Inventor     Issue Date                                          ______________________________________                                        3,162,858    Cutler       12-22-64                                            4,290,068    Bogner        9-15-81                                            1,149,931    Thomas (Canada)                                                                             7-12-83                                            ______________________________________                                    

The 1964 patent to Cutler sets forth a ring focus antenna feed for aparabolic dish antenna. Cutler discloses a feed connected to a circularwaveguide which in turn is connected to an amplifier. The amplifier andthe circular waveguide are contained within a supporting pedestal. Theamplifier is then interconnected through a second circular waveguide tothe transceiver. The second circular waveguide and the transceiver arelocated behind the parabolic dish. The amplifier and the first circularwaveguide are located in the pedestal which supports the feed.

The 1981 patent to Bogner sets forth a multipoint distribution system(MDS) disk-on-rod type antenna. To the rear of the spaced-apart disk islocated a waveguide which includes a cylindrical container having aclosed back and sidewalls with an open mouth. Bogner incorporates thedown converter into the waveguide in order to reduce wind load and toreduce transmission loss. In implementing the down converter into thewaveguide, Bogner requires that it must be contained in less than fiftypercent of the volume of the waveguide cavity. Bogner houses his downconverter n a separate metal structure within the waveguide. Because thedown converter is located in a waveguide, the waveguide must haveprecise dimensions based upon the wave length of the signal beingsensed. Bogner requires that the metal structure containing the downconverter electronics must not touch the sidewalls of the waveguidesince to do so would change the waveguide and wavelength. The Bognerapproach is critically designed for a frequency of 2153 MHz.

The 1983 Canadian patent to Thomas also relates to an MDS antennasuitable for receiving a single microwave transmission in the 2.15gigahertz range. Thomas utilizes a semi-parabolic antenna having itsfeed supported by a hollow tubular support in which Thomas integratesthe down converter or a portion of the down converter. Thomas connectsthe feed elements through a matching network and then to a coaxial cablewhich then interconnects the matching network to a mixer located withinthe tubular support. The mixer carries the input RF signal from the feedelements to a signal from the local oscillator and the difference of theinput signal (2154.75 MHZ) and the local oscillator frequency (2216.0MHz) is delivered into a set of IF amplifiers whose output is connectedto a standard coax cable. The circuit board carrying the electronicscontained within the tubular support is grounded to the tubular supportby means of an arcuate metal conductor. The conductor electricallyconnects the printed overlay of the board with the inside metallicsurfaces of the support arm. The outer sheath of the coaxial cable whichinterconnects the mixer with the matching network is also connected tothe copper overlay of the circuit board. Likewise, the outer sheath ofthe coaxial cable interconnecting the outputs of the IF amplifiers andthe customer's television set is also grounded to the copper overlay.

Of the three patents found in the search, only the Thomas patent is mostpertinent. The Bogner approach utilizes a critically designed waveguidehaving disposed within the waveguide the down converter electronics. Thepackage for the down converter electronics is critically designed and iselectrically insulated from the waveguide. Cutler places the amplifierwithin the feed support but requires a waveguide to extend the signalfrom the feed to the amplifier. Thomas, like the present invention,utilizes a semi-parabolic antenna and places the down converter or aportion thereof into the tubular support arm which supports the feed.Thomas, while solving the problem with respect to minimizing windloadand reducing the number of separate parts and components does notprovide a system for providing MMDS programming. Hence, a need stillexists when implementing the down converter into the tubular support armto provide RF filtering in order to minimize IF and image typeinterference, to provide circuit shielding to prevent unwanted signalsfrom radiating past input filtering, to provide multiple groundingconnections between the circuit board and the inside of the support boomto maintain the integrity of RF filtering and shielding, to utilize anRF amplifier stage to establish low noise performance, to provide broadband mixing performance with high signal handling characteristics, toreference a stabilized oscillator, and to provide an integrated downconverter/antenna system which is compatible with encryption/addressablesystems. The Thomas approach was only concerned with processing a singlemicrowave TV channel and was not concerned with the interferencepotential of other channels in an MMDS configuration. Furthermore,Thomas did not fully eliminate the coaxial cable interconnections.

4. Solution to the Problem

The present invention provides a solution to the above stated problem, asolution which is not met by the above three patents.

The integrated antenna/down converter of the present invention providesa one-piece concept to MMDS receive antennas. By integrating all thenecessary components in the antenna, installation times are kept to aminimum as well as reducing inventory parts by the MMDS operator. Theintegrated antenna/down converter unit of the present invention can bepackaged for consumer installations to allow for more cost savings bythe system operator All necessary cables and connectors are provided forconsumer installation. The semi-parabolic reflector of the presentinvention mounts the down converter in the feed support boom.

The integrated antenna/down converter of the present invention alsoprovides significant RF filtering so as to minimize IF and image typeinterference. This is accomplished by providing circuit shielding at theinput from the feed which prevents signals from radiation past the inputfiltering and at the output. Multiple grounding connections existbetween the circuit board and the inside of the support boom at theinput and output ends. Furthermore, an RF amplifier stage is provided toobtain low noise performance. Broad band mixing performance with highsignal handling characteristics are also provided. The circuit of thepresent invention utilizes a stabilized reference oscillator which isphysically isolated from the main portion of the electronics also tominimize signal interference. The integrated down converter/antennasystem of the present invention is compatible withencryption/addressable systems. Finally, the circuit of the presentinvention fully eliminates all coaxial cable interconnections betweenthe down converter and the driven feed elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An integrated semi-parabolic antenna/down converter MMDS receivingsystem is disclosed wherein the support boom of a semi-parabolic antennacontains the down converter electronics. Located at the focal area ofthe semi-parabolic antenna are a pair of driven feed elements which aredirectly connected to the printed circuit board carrying the downconverter electronics thereby eliminating a costly coax connection. Thesupport boom of the present invention is square in cross-sectional shapeand has a formed hollow interior. The down converter of the presentinvention is formed in an elongated shape to fit entirely within theformed hollow interior of the support boom.

The down converter comprises a first printed circuit board whichcontains an RF filter located at the input end of the printed circuitboard. The input of the RF filter circuit is directly connected to thepair of driven feed elements by soldering the legs of the driven feedelements directly to the input of the RF filter stage on the firstprinted circuit board. The RF filter is surrounded by an input groundshield which covers the RF filter circuit. The shield is soldered to thetop and bottom ground planes of the printed circuit board. A pluralityof ground clips are located on the ground shield so as to firmly abutagainst the interior sides of the support boom in order to establish anelectrical ground connection and to position the printed circuit boardwithin the hollow interior of the support boom. In addition, a groundclip is connected to the bottom ground plane in the area of the RFground shield which cooperates with the aforementioned ground clips. Atthe opposite end of the printed circuit board is an output amplifierwhose output is connected to a coax output lead. A coax ground shieldengages the opposite end of the first printed circuit board in aperpendicular orientation so as to position the opposite end of theprinted circuit board within the hollow interior. The coax ground shieldis connected to the coax ground and to the top and bottom ground planesof the printed circuit board and functions to minimize interferingradiation. A plurality of ground clips are mounted onto the coax groundshield so as to establish an electrical ground connection to theinterior of the support boom and to position the opposite end of thedown converter centrally within the hollow interior.

Finally, the reference oscillator for the down converter is mounted on asecond printed circuit board which is spaced from the first printedcircuit board and is oriented to have its bottom ground plane to befacing the bottom ground plane of the first printed circuit board. Thisarrangement substantially minimizes interference between the referenceoscillator and the remaining down converter electronics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration showing the integrated antenna/down converterof the present invention interconnected with a consumer's televisionsystem.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the various components of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electronic components of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the front end of the down converter of thepresent invention with respect to the drive elements and the housing forthe drive elements.

FIG. 5 sets forth the electronic circuitry for the daughter board of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a top cutaway planar view of the front end of the downconverter of the present invention as interconnected with the driveelements.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the output end of the down converter ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top planar view showing the connection of the coax bracketof the present invention connected to the output end of the downconverter of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side planar view of the coax ground shield of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side planar view of the front end filter shield.

SPECIFICATION 1. Overview

In FIG. 1, the environment in which the integrated antenna/downconverter of the present invention is utilized is shown. On a consumer'shouse 10 is mounted a normal antenna 20 and a semi-parabolic MMDSintegrated antenna/down converter 30 of the present invention. Theconventional antenna 20 is interconnected by means of coaxial cable 22into a conventional A/B switch 40. The integrated antenna/down converter30 is also interconnected over coaxial cable 32 to a power inserter 50which inserts power over lines 52 from a power supply 60. The powerinserter 50 is connected by means of coaxial cable 54 to the AB switch40. The power inserter 50 is conventional and provides power over coax32 for powering the down converter portion of the integratedantenna/down converter 30. The A/B switch 40 conventionally selectsbetween the programming available from antenna 20 or from the multiplechannels on coax 54 from the MMDS antenna 30. The AB switch is connectedby means of a jumper cable 42 to a consumer's TV 70. The systemconfiguration of FIG. 1 is conventional and is shown to simplyillustrate the environment that the integrated antenna/down converter ofthe present invention operates in. Furthermore, it illustrates how poweris conventionally supplied over coax 32 to the integrated antenna/downconverter 30 of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the integration of the antenna with the down converter of thepresent invention is shown. A conventional semi-parabolic antenna 200 ismounted to a support post 210. Connected to the antenna 200 is a supportboom 220 which, in the preferred embodiment, is a one inch square boom.Any suitable size and suitable geometrical cross-sectional shape (suchas rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, or circular) could also be used.The boom 220 supports a feed housing 230 located in the focal point 202of the antenna 200. Under the teachings of the present invention, thedown converter 240 is located on the interior of the support boom 220. Apair of weatherproof seals 250 and 252 are located in the end 222 of theboom 220 nearest the antenna 200. The down converter 240 is locatedwithin the hollow interior of the support boom 220 and the feed 230 ismounted on the end 224 farthest from the antenna 200.

The down converter 240 includes the coax bracket 260, an oscillatorboard 270 having an input end 203 and an output end 205, a daughterboard 280, and a front end filter shield 290. While the presentinvention integrates the down converter into the hollow interior of thesupport boom of a semi-parabolic antenna, it is to be expresslyunderstood that the teachings of the present invention find applicationin full parabolic dish antennas or any suitable microwave antenna.Therefore, the shape of the antenna 200 is not a limiting factor to theteachings contained herein.

2. Down Converter Overview

What follows is a brief description of the electronic components used inthe down converter 240 of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, the block diagram circuit details of the integrated downconverter 240 is shown. The oscillator board 270 and the daughter board280 are located within the support boom 220. As shown in FIG. 2, spacers282 space the daughter board 280 from the oscillator board 270. Thebottom ground plane 430 of the first printed circuit board (i.e.,oscillator board) 270 faces the bottom ground plane 284 of the secondprinted circuit board (i.e., daughter board) 280. The spacing (i.e.,caused by spacers 282) and the orientation of the daughter board (i.e.,bottom ground plane 282 and 284 facing each other) isolates theelectronics on the first and second boards and minimizes any signalinterferences between the operation of the two boards.

On the oscillator board 270 is located an RF filter 300 which isdirectly connected to the feed elements 310 and 320. The RF filter 300is connected to a low noise amplifier 330 which in turn is connected tothe sub-harmonic mixer and oscillator 340. The RF filter 300 and theamplifier 330 constitute input circuitry. The sub-harmonic mixer andoscillator 340 receives an error correction signal from the referenceoscillator 350 over line 352. The sub-harmonic mixer and oscillator 340is interconnected to a band pass filter 360 over lines 342. The bandpass filter 360 is connected to an amplifier 370 over lines 362. Thebandpass filter 360 and the amplifier 370 constitute output circuitry.The amplifier 370 is connected to the coax 32. The down convertercircuitry utilized to implement the components of FIG. 3 are well knownand the details of this circuitry is not necessary for the teachings ofthe present invention.

From an operational point of view, the RF filter 300 is directly coupledto the feed elements 310 and 320. The details of this directinterconnection will be discussed subsequently. The RF filter providesfront end selectivity. The front end selectivity is gained by acombination transmission line and lump component high pass filter. Aswill be discussed subsequently, the filter is shielded top, bottom, andon the sides to eliminate the potential for IF frequencies passingthrough the cavity defined by the support boom 220 and entering theactive circuits. The RF filter 300 provides band pass filtering forincoming signal from feed elements 310 and 320 above 2480 MHz. Thefilter 300 could be the aforesaid high pass design or could be designedas a band-pass filter in the range of about 2480 to 2700 MHz.

The low noise amplifier 330 provides sufficient gain to establishoverall noise figure. The output of the low noise amplifier 330 isdelivered over lines 332 to the sub-harmonic mixer and oscillator 340.It is to be understood that any suitable mixer design such as an activeor single diode design could be utilized. In the preferred embodiment,the oscillator is a single bi-polar transistor in a common collectorconfiguration. Frequency stability is achieved by locking the oscillatorto a stable reference oscillator 350 which is delivered over line 352from the daughter board 280, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The referenceoscillator 350 utilizes phase lock loop circuitry and is located on theseparate daughter board 280 to minimize the potential for digital noisein the RF circuits 340. In FIG. 5, the daughter board 280 receives thelocal oscillator signal on line 352A from the sub-harmonic mixer andoscillator 340. This signal is delivered into a divider circuit 500 andis then transferred into the phase comparator 510 for comparison to areference signal from the stable reference oscillator 520. If anydifferences are detected, the control circuit 530 adjusts the voltagecontrol output V_(co) and delivers it back over line 352B to oscillator340. Noise and signal interference are minimized by (1) separating thereference oscillator onto a second printed circuit board, (2) spacingthe separate printed circuit board from the oscillator board, and (3) byorienting the bottom ground plane of the second printed circuit board toface the bottom ground plane of the oscillator board. The spacing 282and the orientation of ground planes 430 and 284 are illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3.

Once the RF signal on lines 332 is mixed to the desired output frequencyby circuit 340, the output signal is delivered on lines 342 into theband pass filter 360. The band pass filter filters the output signal onlines 342 according to customer requirements but usually in the range of150-288 MHz.

The filtered signals are delivered on lines 362 to the output amplifier370 which functions to amplify the signals with approximately 18 dBgain.

Finally, the coax 32 is connected directly to the output of theamplifier 370 and delivered as shown in FIG. 1. It is to be expresslyunderstood that a number of different electronic circuits could beutilized as a down converter for MMDS applications and that the presentinvention is not to be limited to the application of a particulardesign.

3. Front End Filter Shield

In FIG. 4, the details of the feed housing 230 and the front end filtershield 290 are shown. In FIG. 4, the feed housing 230 consists of afemale portion 230A and a male portion 230B. The two portions aredesigned to fit together to form a weatherproof housing as shown. Thedriven elements 310 and 320 are held within the housing 230 by pedestals400. A sub-reflector 410 is held within the housing 230 by slots 402.Also shown in FIG. 4 is the oscillator printed circuit board 270.Printed circuit board 270 at the feed end has three formed slots 272,274, and 276. Driven element 310 is inserted into slot 272 and has endconnection leg 312 soldered to the top and bottom sides of the printedcircuit board 270. In FIG. 4, connection leg 322 is soldered to topground plane 278 and bottom ground plane 430 of oscillator board 270.Connection leg 312 of the driven element is soldered to top ground plane278 and bottom ground plane 430 of oscillator board 270. The baluncenter conductor 420 has its end 422 soldered 413 to copper pads 411 and412. It is to be expressly understood that the design of balun 420 couldvary and that the teachings of the present invention are not limited tothe design illustrated.

As can be observed, the driven elements 310 and 320 are directlysoldered to the oscillator board 270 to directly input the RF filter300. A separate coax is not required. The advantages of this directconnection are (1) the elimination of a weather seal, (2) lowerinsertion loss, (3) lower cost, and (4) improved impedance matching.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 10, a front end filter shield 290 of solidconductive material (e.g., copper) is designed to be placed over theinput RF filter 300. The front end filter shield 290 has the bottoms ofits opposing sides 292 and opposing ends 294 soldered 600 to the groundplane 278 of the oscillator board 270 and to the bottom ground plane430. Opposing arcuate cutouts 296 are not soldered to the ground plane278 so as to provide signal pathways. Three ground clips 440 aresoldered to the filter shield 290 as shown in FIG. 4 on three sides ofthe shield 290 (i.e., top 298 and opposing sides 292). The ground clips440 are designed to firmly abut the inside sidewalls 602 of the supportboom 220. As shown in FIG. 2, a fourth ground shield clip 450 issoldered to the bottom ground plane 430 of oscillator board 270 underthe shield 290. The four ground clips firmly position and hold the inputend 203 of the oscillator board 270 connected to the driven elements 310and 320 in place within the support boom 220. The four ground clips alsoprovide electrical contact with the interior sidewalls 602 of the metalsupport boom.

FIGS. 6 and 10 illustrate the front end filter shield 290 soldered 600to the ground planes 278 and 430 of the oscillator board 270. The end503 is also shown fully supported and positioned within the interior 610of the boom 220 by the ground clips 440 and 450. The four ground clips440 and 450 firmly electrically contact the grounded metallic boom toprovide substantial shielding of the input RF filter 300 and to preventunwanted signals from propagating into the hollow interior of the boomand into the downstream circuitry of the down converter. For example,the front end filter shield 290 eliminates the potential for out of band(including IF) frequencies passing through the cavity of the boom 220and entering the active circuitry of the down converter. The boom 220 isfully grounded to the shield which in turn is grounded to the groundplanes 278 and 440.

It is to be expressly understood that a number of differentconfigurations for designing the shield 290 of the present inventioncould be utilized.

4. Coax Bracket

In FIGS. 7-9, the output end 205 of the oscillator board 270 is showninterconnected to a coax bracket 710. The coax bracket 710 formed ofsolid conductive material (e.g., copper) is designed to be soldered tothe output end 205 of the oscillator board 270. The end 205 of theoscillator board has two opposing ground pads 720 and 730 with theoutput signal lead 372 disposed there between. Lead 372 is connected tothe output of amplifier 370. The coax bracket 710 has two legs 712 and714. On the external opposing sides of each leg, 712 and 714, aresoldered two ground clips 716. Each leg 712 and 714 has a formed slot718 which is designed to slip over end 700. As shown in FIG. 9, legs 712and 714 are soldered 732 on both sides of the leg 712 and 714 to the topground pads 720 and 730 and on the bottom ground plane 430. In otherwords, the upper and lower edges of the slots 718 are soldered on bothsides 278 and 430 of the ground plane. This provides a solid electricalground connection.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, an innerbarrel 800 is soldered to the coaxbracket 710. The coax 32 has its center conductor 810 exposed withapproximately 1/4 inch of the center insulation 820 exposed. The centerconductor 810 is mounted through the innerbarrel 800 and the centerconductor 810 is soldered to the strip 372. The ground sheath 830 ofcoax 32 is crimped to the innerbarrel 800. Crimp ring 840 is used toaccomplish this. In this fashion, the ground sheath 830 is fullygrounded to the coax bracket 710 which in turn is fully grounded to theground plane of the circuit board 700 to prevent unwanted signals fromentering the boom via the coax or the end of the boom nearest theantenna. The ground clips 716 center the end 205 of the oscillator boardwithin the hollow interior of boom 220 in a fashion set forth in FIG. 6.The ground clips 716 also fully ground the end 700 of the board 270 tothe internal sides of the support boom 220.

It is clear that the down converter circuitry is fully integrated intothe boom. In comparison to standard separate down converters, thehousing for the down converter is eliminated as well as the windloadassociated therewith. The coax connects directly with the coax shield ata point which is fully grounded.

It is to be expressly understood that the claimed invention is not to belimited to the description of the preferred embodiment but encompassesother modifications and alterations within the scope and spirit of theinventive concept.

We claim:
 1. An integrated semi-parabolic antenna/down converter MMDSreceiving system comprising:a semi-parabolic antenna, a pair of drivenfeed elements, each of said driven feed elements having a connectionleg, a support boom formed of conductive material connected to saidsemi-parabolic antenna for holding said driven feed elements in thefocal area of said semiparabolic antenna, said support boom having aformed hollow interior, a down converter formed in an elongated shape tofit entirely within said formed hollow interior of said support boom,said down converter at least comprising: (a) a first printed circuitboard, said first printed circuit board having a top ground plane, abottom ground plane, and an input end and an output end,(b) an RF filterhaving an input located on the input end of said first printed circuitboard, the input of said RF filter being directly connected to saiddriven feed elements by soldering said connection legs of said drivenfeed elements directly to said input of said RF filter on said firstprinted circuit board, (c) an RF filter shield covering said RF filterand soldered to said top and bottom ground planes of said first printedcircuit board, said RF filter shield having a plurality of conductiveground clips located thereon so as to firmly abut against the formedhollow interior of said support boom in order to (1) establish anelectrical ground connection therewith and (2) position said firstprinted circuit board within said hollow interior, (d) said firstprinted circuit board having a conductive ground clip connected to saidbottom ground plane to (1) establish a ground connection to saidconductive material of said formed hollow interior of said support boomand (2) position said first printed circuit board within said hollowformed interior, (e) a second printed circuit board connected in spacedrelation to said first printed circuit board, said second printedcircuit board having a top ground plane and a bottom ground plane, saidsecond printed circuit board having placed on said top ground plane areference oscillator, said second printed circuit board having itsbottom ground plane oriented to face the bottom ground plane of saidfirst printed circuit board. (f) an output amplifier on the output endof said first printed circuit board, a coax ground shield engaging saidfirst printed circuit board in a perpendicular orientation, said coaxground shield being soldered to said top and bottom ground planes ofsaid first printed circuit board so as to minimize interferingradiation, said coax ground shield having:(i) a plurality of conductiveground clips on opposing sides of said coax ground shield so as to (1)establish an electrical ground connection to said conductive material ofsaid support boom and (2) position said down converter centrally withinsaid hollow interior, (ii) means connected to said output amplifier forproviding a coaxial connection, a coaxial cable connected to saidcoaxial connection.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said support boomis formed in a square cross-sectional shape.
 3. The system of claim 1wherein said RF filter shield is formed from solid conductive material.4. The system of claim 1 wherein said coax ground shield is formed fromsolid conductive material.
 5. An integrated semi-parabolic antenna/downconverter MMDS receiving system comprising:a semi-parabolic antenna, apair of driven feed elements, a support boom formed of conductivematerial connected to said semi-parabolic antenna for holding saiddriven feed elements in the focal area of said semi-parabolic antenna,said support boom having a formed hollow interior, a down converterformed in an elongated shape to fit entirely within said formed hollowinterior of said support boom, said down converter at leastcomprising:(a) a printed circuit board, said printed circuit boardhaving a bottom ground plane, said printed circuit board having an inputend, (b) an RF filter located on said input end of said printed circuitboard, said RF filter having an input end, the input end of said RFfilter being connected to said driven feed elements, and (c) an RFfilter shield covering said RF filter and soldered to said bottom groundplane of said printed circuit board, said RF filter shield having aplurality of conductive ground clips located thereon so as to firmlyabut against the formed hollow interior of said conductive material ofsaid support boom in order to (1) establish an electrical groundconnection therewith and (2) position said input end of said printedcircuit board within said formed hollow interior.
 6. The system of claim5 wherein said support boom is formed in a square cross-sectional shape.7. The system of claim 5 wherein said RF filter shield is formed fromsolid conductive material.
 8. The system of claim 5 wherein each of saiddriven feed elements has a connection leg and wherein the input end ofsaid RF filter being directly connected to said driven feed elements bysoldering said connection legs of said driven feed elements directly tosaid RF filter on said printed circuit board.
 9. An integratedsemi-parabolic antenna/down converter MMDS receiving system comprising:asemi-parabolic antenna, a pair of driven feed elements, a support boomformed of conductive material connected to said semi-parabolic antennafor holding said driven feed elements in the focal area of saidsemi-parabolic antenna, said support boom having a formed hollowinterior, a down converter connected to said pair of driven feedelements and formed in an elongated shape to fit within said formedhollow interior of said support boom, said down converter having anoutput end, said down converter comprising:(a) a printed circuit board,said printed circuit board having a bottom ground plane and an outputend, (b) an output amplifier on the output end of said printed circuitboard, (c) a coax ground shield engaging said circuit board in aperpendicular orientation, said coax ground shield being soldered tosaid bottom ground plane of said printed circuit board so as to minimizeinterfering radiation, said coax ground shield having:(i) a plurality ofconductive ground clips on opposing sides of said coax ground shield soas to (1) establish an electrical ground connection to said conductivematerial of said supporting boom and (2) position said output end ofsaid down converter centrally within said formed hollow interior, (ii)means connected to said output amplifier for providing a coaxialconnection, a coaxial cable connected to said coaxial connection. 10.The system of claim 9 wherein said support boom is formed in a squarecross-sectional shape.
 11. The system of claim 9 wherein said coaxground shield is formed from solid conductive material.
 12. Anintegrated semi-parabolic antenna/down converter MMDS receiving systemcomprising:a semi-parabolic antenna, a pair of driven feed elements, asupport boom connected to said semi-parabolic antenna at a first end forholding said driven feed elements at the opposing end in the focal areaof said semi-parabolic antenna, said support boom having a formeduniform hollow interior extending from said first end to said opposingend, a down converter connected to said pair of driven feed elements andformed in an elongated shape to fit entirely within said uniform formedhollow interior of said support boom, said down converter at leastcomprising:(a) a first printed circuit board, said first circuit boardhaving a bottom ground plane, (b) a reference oscillator, (c) a secondprinted circuit board having a bottom ground plane connected in spacedrelation to said first printed circuit board, said second printedcircuit board having placed thereon said reference oscillator, saidsecond printed circuit board having said bottom ground plane oriented toface the bottom ground plane of said first printed circuit board. (d) anRF filter located on one end of said first printed circuit board, saidRF filter having an input, each of said driven feed elements havingconnection legs, the input of said RF filter being directly connected tosaid driven feed elements by soldering said connection legs of saiddriven feed elements directly to said input of said RF filter on saidfirst printed circuit board.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein saidsupport boom is formed in a square cross-sectional shape.
 14. Anintegrated semi-parabolic antenna/down converter MMDS receiving systemcomprising:a semi-parabolic antenna, a pair of driven feed elements, asupport boom connected to said semi-parabolic antenna for holding saiddriven feed elements in the focal area of said semi-parabolic antenna,said support boom having a formed hollow interior, a down converterformed in an elongated shape to fit entirely within said formed hollowinterior of said support boom, said down converter at leastcomprising:(a) a printed circuit board, said printed circuit boardhaving an input end and an output end, (b) an RF filter having an inputlocated on the input end of said printed circuit board, the input ofsaid RF filter being directly connected to said driven feed elements bysoldering said driven feed elements directly to said input of said RFfilter on said printed circuit board, (c) a first ground shieldelectrically shielding said connection of said RF filter input to saiddriven feed elements, said first ground shield engaging said supportboom, (d) an output amplifier on the opposing end of said printedcircuit board, said output amplifier having an output end, (e) meansconnected to said output amplifier for providing a coaxial connection,(f) a second ground shield electrically shielding said connection ofsaid providing means to said output end, said second ground shieldengaging said support boom, (g) means on said first and second groundshields and located within said formed interior for centering said downconverter in said formed interior of said support boom, a coaxial cableconnected to said coaxial connection.